Forensic Assistance

The forensic science community is continually seeking more accurate and effective methods of investigating crimes of all types, including those involving explosives of all kinds. The Instutute has long supported the forensic efforts of law enforcement agencies by providing industry expertise and technical information to make the science of solving these crimes even more effective.

The FBI Laboratory'sHandbook of Forensic Servicesprovides guidance and procedures for safe and efficient methods of collecting, preserving, packaging, and shipping evidence and describes the forensic examinations performed by the FBI’s Laboratory Division and Operational Technology Division.

The Technical Working Group for Fire and Explosions (TWGFEX) promotes dialogue among personnel in the forensic laboratory, public safety, private investigation, and legal communities and to promulgate and foster development of national protocols and/or guides for the collection and analysis of fire and explosion debris, and residues, to be published by the National Center for Forensic Science or other appropriate organizations or to be submitted to ANSI accredited standards development organizations.

TWGFEX publishes training and quality assurance guidelines for fire and explosion scene personnel and laboratory practitioners. Develops guidelines and protocols that integrate fire and bombing scene investigations and forensic laboratory analyses into incidents of terrorism or weapons of mass destruction.